aug_2__1984.html

PIX #1 - A new nursing home, badly needed, was completed
in 1979 and dedicated on Memorial Day.

PIX #2 - One of the typical resident cottages. There
are 16 for veterans.

PIX #3 - The home's well-stock library.

PIX #4 - COL. JOHN WEEKS Administrator

PIX #5 - JIM SINGLER Registrar

PIX #6 - RALPH CLINK Chaplain

PIX #7 - Entrance to Administration Building.

(AUTHOR'S NOTE: Many readers have heard that there is
an institution in Ohio for veterans of wars in which this country
has been involved. But probably only a few know much about the institution,
how it came to be, the services it provides and the extent of the
facilities. Harry Stoneberger, a World War I veteran and actively
engaged in all veteran programs, suggested this article and assisted
in making contacts at the facility for data and photos. Here is the
complete and enlightening story.)

In 1886 a patriotic group of Ohio citizens headed by
Mr. I.F. Mack, Sandusky, determined that this state should provide
a home to care for honorably dis- charged veterans of the Civil War
from Ohio who were disabled or required assistance. They prevailed
upon the legislature to submit a bill creating such an institution
and in that same year during the administration of Gov. Foraker, the
bill gained approval. It required the governor to appoint a com- mission
or board of trustees and empowered them to select a site and arrange
for the construction of the home.

The board selected for the undertaking was comprised
of I.F. Mack, Sandusky; P.I. Brown, Zanesville; W.P. Orr, Piqua; Thomas
Dill, Mansfield; and Thomas Paxton, Cincinnati. The first meeting
of the board was June 3, 1886, and Mr. Mack was elected chairman with
Mr. Brown elected as secretary.

SANDUSKY CHOSEN OVER 13 OTHERS

During that meeting proposals were solicited from various
cities desiring to offer land for the home. The trustees visited 14
communities that were in- terested in the project and finally selected
a site three miles south of Sandusky.

An agreement was entered into by the trustees and the
City of Sandusky which provided the present site containing approximately
100 acres be deeded to the State of Ohio. The city was required to
provide water mains, gas mains, electric lines and street car tracks
to the home site.

Sandusky further agreed to furnish an ample supply of
water at the cost of $25 per year for 13 years. After that time the
home would be charged the same rate as were industries in Sandusky.
The trustees proceded with construction of various buildings and on
Nov. 19, 1888, the home opened with 17 members being admitted on that
first day.

CIVIL WAR VET FIRST MEMBER

Gen. Manning F. Force, the first commandant, served
from 1888 to 1889. Frank- lin I. Bayes, a Civil War Army veteran from
Fulton County was the first member admitted to the home. He died there
March 8l, 1889, at the age of 45.

Since that time more than 45,000 have entered the home.
The peak of member- ship was reached May 11, 1910, when 1,737 members
were enrolled. Membership consists of veterans from all services and
the National Guard who served hon- orably in the Mexican Border War,
World War I, World War II, the Korean Con- flict and the Vietnam War.

In 1969, the law governing admission to the home was
amended by the Ohio legislature to include female veterans. On Oct.
10, 1969, Burnice M. Dufour, a World War II Navy veteran from Mogadore
(Portage County) became the first woman and the 22,225th veteran admitted
to the home.

ORIGINALLY NAMED SOLDIER-SAILOR HOME

The name of the home was officially changed from the
Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Home to the Ohio Veterans's Home in Sandusky
in 1979. It is a little city within itself with administration building,
kitchen, dining hall, heating plant, commissary, and carpentry, machine,
paint and electrical shops. The home also has its own laundry facilities,
library, greenhouse, relic room and bowling alley.

Poppies sold by the American Legion and its auxiliaries
throughout the state are made in Poppy Shop by non-compensated disabled
veterans.

NEARLY 400 EMPLOYEES SERVICE THE HOME

More than 280 civil service employees and 100 veteran
members are employed at the home. Two full-time chaplains offer Protestant
and Catholic church ser- vices in the home's chapel.

Twelve commandants have been in charge of the home since
it opened in 1888. They are Manning F. Force, A. Anderson, Thomas
Anderson, J.W. Cline, W.K. Bur- nett, Perry I. Null, John C. Volka,
Roy T. Rogers, Don A. Wheeler, James Delong, John W. Parker and Robert
H. Borders.

In 1981 the title of commandant was changed to director.
Col. John F. Weeks was appointed to that position May 4, 1981, and
is still there.

The home is under the direction of a board of trustees
apointed by the gover- nor. These include J. Ernest Griffin, Bellaire,
chairman; Kenneth Robey, Dayton, vice-chairman; Harry J. Ebert, Sandusky,
secretary; and board members William C. Seiler M.D., Sandusky; Howard
Kabler, Ripley; William Denihan, Cleveland; Ned T. Dunn, Columbus.

(NOTE: Due to the amount of information and the many
interesting photos available to describe the home, this article will
be continued next week. I am sure this is an article that will be
saved by readers because of its his- torical value and human interest.)